Combination scribing and compass unit



May 12, 1953 L. J. GIOSS] COMBINATION SCRIBING AND COMPASS UNIT Filed April 17., 1952 INVENTOR [GU/SJ. 6/055/ iaten'ted May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,637,906 COMBINATION SCRIBING AND COMPASS NIT This invention relates to improvements in combination scribing and compass units of the type j in which the unit is usable for instance, as a pencil or pen compass or for pencil or pen service alone, the compass portion being housed within and carried permanently by the pencil body and capable of being rendered active at will, the pencil forming one of the legs of the compass during the latter use.

Various forms of such units have been proposed, the purpose being to provide a unit which is usable either as a compass or as a pencil or pen at will, but in which all of the elements are permanently carried by the unit, the compass portion being housed within the pencil casing when inactive. The present invention pertains to such devices and is designed to simplify the structures thereof and to render them more efficient.

Generally such structures have their hinging zones formed of a composite of both the pencil portion and the compass portion. In the present invention, the hinging zone is actually a section of the compass portion, being in the form of a head zone arranged to form the rear end zone of the pencil and removably secured to the pencil casing by screw-thread connection. As a result, the compass portion'm-ay be used interchangeably with other drafting implements. For instance, instead of the pencil casing forming the second leg of the compass, this leg may be provided by a casing carrying a ruling pen formation, thus enabling the combination to be used for both pen and pencil drafting, with the casing of the pen equipped for housing the compass portion, the pen, similar to the pencil assembly shown, can be used alone for pen drawing or as a member of the pen compass.

In fact, the primary feature of the present invention pertains to such head zone of the combination, it being of special type, being designed more particularly to simplify the hinging zone and yet make it possible to practically lock the compass in its adjusted position at will, thus per mitting a hinging zone based on different "de grees of friction in service; a normal joint action, or an increased frictional component eve approaching a locked condition.

In addition, the compass leg is of extensible type to render it retractible and housed within the pencil casing, the extension being telescopd" is affected by the presence'of the compass feature.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be understood as the invention is hereinafter described, said invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts the compass portion exposed to thereby complete the compass formation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the head zone, the section being taken on line 4---'i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially in longitudinal section.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the leg of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the extension section.

In the drawing, in indicates the casing of a writing or scribing implement, which could be a pen or a casing having the lower end zone equipped as a ruling pen for drafting purposes. The lead-feed mechanism of the pencil is not shown in detail, since the present invention pertains rather to the service as a member of a compass unit than its individual pencil service, so that the specific invention reaches more to the casing-portion of the pencil which is designed sion being made therein-for the substitution of 7 lead, their feeding etc., as is common in pencils of this-type. The mechanical pencil type is preferi'ed; since it provides for a 'casing of constant length and is thus available for service as one i of the legs of the compass unit, the opposite leg of which is positionable as a leg of similar length, thus enabling proper compass action.

"The casing is shown as having a hollow core I i which extends to the inner end of the casing, the end being shown as extending on a plane at right angles to such core, with the end zone of the core internally threaded, as at 12, this zone being'designed to receive the threaded end I3 .3 or head element 14 associated with and forming a carrier for the compass leg. The casing ll] includes an external, longitudinally extending recess i5 of definite length and extending from the upper end of the casing to an intermediate point in the length of the casing above the lead adjusting zone of the pencil, said recess being adapted to receive and contain the inactive compa-ss leg formation as a. housing; therefor, the outer face of the compass leg being preferably formed to conform to the shape and curvature of the casing periphery, so that in housed position. it practically closes the recess, leaving the casing. surface as having the contour of a pencil of'this type. The length of recess I5 is determined by the length of the main section of the compass, leg, the lower end of the latter being housed,

within the lower end zone of the recess. Hence, in the housed condition of the compass leg, the assembly has the general characteristics as to shape and general appearanceoi the mechanical pencil and is usable as such with. no, interfering conditions presented byv the con'ipass leg struc.- ture.

Th head element i l. is preferably metallicv with a plane lower face carrying the threaded.v

projection 13. It is of suitable length and peripherall contoured generally inv substantially symmetrical correspondence with the preferred;

contour of the pencil casing, to complete the,

symmetry of the latter. The element proyides the head zone for the compass tormation, theelement having a recess [6 of uniform widthextending inwardly from one side face inv the diametrical direction of the, element, said recess it, when the element is properly seatedbeing aligned with the end of recess It, A major portion of, the bottom of recess I6 is of circular-contour, such contour being concentric with a pivoting pin ll which extends diametrically of the ele.

ment and transversely through recess 16, the

contour curvature being complete at thei upper;

side of the recess with the lower, side being formed to merge into recess. l5, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Recess i6 is designedtov receive the upper hinging end of the main section if}, of the compass leg, said hinging end being in the form ofa head 19 coaXial W t fp l and as nd Qaiedn.. s-,

6, of substantiallyuniforinwidth throughoutits, le t As indicated inFis- 5, l o. usher 0 1? tour of the head is semi-.circular, and; asindi-v cated in Figs. l and 6, this; peripheral faceis formed grooved, as at tame-groove being. pref.-

erably \.'-shaped incross. section, with the periphery of slightly less external diameter than the internal diameter of recess 16.

ter carrying a threaded headed member 2:. extending inwardly in theaxis of the element, with its free end pointed for cooperation. Wi hthe tom face of groove 2%}, head Hi will bepractically locked-against any swingingmovernent. through thefrictional conditions produced by the engage--v ment of: oppositefaccs of the pcintedend zone of member 2,5 with opposing zones of thegroove bottom, regardless of the position the leg; may, be.

Groove. 2 B. is, alined with the axis of the-head element; the late housed position or in any selected projected position, the latter making it possible to use the pencil at will While maintaining a selected compass setting.

This form of head zone diilers from the structural formations of the head zones of drafting instruments as usually provided, the latter relying upon the friction component produced between the opposing side faces of the hinging structures employed, dependence being placed on the friction for maintaining positions in service while permitting sufficient freedom for adjusting the leg positions, th hinging zones being provided with adjusting means which permits tightening of the joint when wear undulyreduced the friction value. The present arrangement permits the use of less friction on the side faces with freer adjustment possibilities, thus tending to decrease or delay the development of Wear conditions, the ability to practically lock thev joint by setting of; member iii in groove 20, atwill, rendering. the maintenance of position of the legs more certain, and provioi a we definite advantage in, the formation of the hing g zone of drafting instruments, due to the ability to, morefirmly anchor the legs in adjusted position forservice, andyct provide for greater ease in producing the adjustments. These conditions lead to greater eiiiciency in service as well asfor longer lifeto the instrument through the decreasein wear development.

The main section it of the compass leg leads from the hinging cone in the form of an elongatedarrn designed to form a carrier for an extensible section 212 ofthe leg, the latter, when in extended position, producing: a leg length such astorender the distance from the pivoting pin I! to the pointedv end of extension 22 practically equal to the distance from such pivot to the end of the lead which projects from the lower end of the pencil casing. Since the extension section, 22' is formed to be housed by the main sectipn I3 when the leg is inactive, it will be understood that the main section is of the greater length.

As indicatedin, Fig 6, the main section 13 is of substantially. uniform width, the section being variable in depthdirnension, due to the fact that while the inner or bottom side of the section is generally planar, the outer or top face is formed, to conform to the shapes-f, the pencil, casing, so that, inthe housed position of the leg, in which section [8, is located in, recess t5, the surface of the pencil will appear practically. continuous,

, thuspermitting pencil use in the usual manner leg p-rqvided by such, sections it and 22 with the,

latter inits working position,

The body of main section l8v has its head zone contoured to blend or merge intov the body. portion, as indicated in Figs.- 2, 3v and 5; The body h section; is pr ded. with a longitudinal bQIQZS to-receivaertensicn 22-, said bore, extending .fr-omlbhe ireeiendorthe; section in the directionv of-jthe; head zone, with the; bore length suf-v ficient to, completcly house the extension. The,

oc py n Hencc, the leg can be locked; in ite 75 lower end zone of the section I8 is formed solid;

with the exception of bore23, sothat when extension 22 is in housed position, its pointed end zone will be completely within this end zone of the main section, thereby protecting such pointed end from any possibility of being damaged. Since the extension 22 carries a laterally extending pin 22a at its inner end, the body of section It, be-

yond such lower end zone, is formed with a lon-.

gitudinal recess iila extending inwardly from its inner face and into said bore, thus providing an open channel within which pin 22a can move lengthwise of the recess or channel 18a in providing for the extension housing movement, the wall on either or both sides of channel lBa being provided with a laterally extended slot [812 at the lower end of channel 8a, intowhich pin 22a can be moved by rotating theextension 22 when the latter is in its projected position, thus lockingthe extension against longitudinal movement lengthwise of section It to thereby provide a stable leg formation. By turning the projected extension to place pin 22a within channel [8a, the extension can be moved longitudinally of section Iii, by end pressure on the extension or by contact of the finger with the exposed end of pin 22a within channel [3a and movement of the finger toward the head zone of the section,.

thus advancing the extension in housing direc tion. The advancing action can be provided by end pressure, while the extension is exposed below section l8, the pin and finger contact being then employed to move the pointed end zone of the extension into its housed position within the lower end zone of section H3. To properly retain the extension within its housed position, the casing I0 is formed with a recess Illa into which the end of'pin 22a passes when the leg section is moved to housed position, thus locking the extension in its housed position, with the pointed end zone of extension 22 located within the solid lower end zone of section I 3.

Extension 22 is in the form of a steel rod of uniform diameter, having one of its end zones tapered to a point. The opposite end may be bent laterally, as indicated in,F i 7, to provide the effect of pin 22a, or a pin may be added to the latter zone, as by welding. Since extension 22 carries the lateral pin 22a with channel Illa closed in the lower zone of section I8, the extension is inserted into section It by being initially positioned within the channel above such lower end with the pointed end downward, the extension then moving downward to be secured in either of the two slot positions, depending upon whether the extension is to be housed with the housed leg, or projected for actual compass service.

Since the pencil casing shown is of the mechanical pencil type, utilizing insertible leads, it is apparent that a pointed steel rod having the lead dimensions could be temporarily substituted for a lead within the casing. Such substitution would permit the compass assembly to be employed as compass dividers. A rod of such type is contemplated within the combination.

While the scribing implement member of the combination is shown as of mechanical pencil type, it is apparent that the lower section of pencil casing I!) can be formed as of ruling pen structure, instead of the pencil assembly, the upper portion of the casing being as shown. The combination would then serve as a compass ruling pen. A combination for commercial marketing can include a pair of such members, each having the upper zone of casing [0 with one lower zone fashioned for pencil service and the other for ruling pen service, thus simulating the com mercial pen and pencil set assemblages. By mounting the compass leg to either. member through the threaded connection l3, with the compass section housed, the implement would be employable for pencil writing or drawing purposes with the possibilities of compass use always available. With both types of casing present, it would be possible to first employ the pencil structure for pencilling in the drawing, then trans ferring the compass section to the pen unit and completing the inking of the drawing. In either case, the casing element could be used alone, or the compass section moved from its housed to its active position to permit compass service. An assemblage of this type is contemplated within the present invention.

As is apparent, a dominant feature of the present invention is the arcuate groove 2t and the member 2|. Since the tapered end of the latter cooperates with the opposite faces of the groove, it is apparent that with the compass leg active and member 2| screwed down tight, the friction on the opposite sides would practically hold the leg against swinging on the pivot under pressure applied to either or both legs. It would be necessary to manually release the member to reduce the friction, since the contact with the opposite sides of the groove would prevent turning of the member under pressure applied to either leg, the contact on one side counteracting that of the other side and preventing the development of a threading action by such pressure. In other words, the tightened member practically locks the assembly against accidental change, whether the parts be in the housed relation or in the compass form. The change depends upon the preliminary loosening of member 2| manually, and is, therefore, wholly under the control of the user.

By forming the end zone of the combination as a part of the compass structure, it is possible to fashion it with the niceties and accuracies provided by instrument makers, and at the same time provide a somewhat ornamental appearance to the end of the writing implement when the compass structure is housed and inactive. In addition, it permits of the ready application of thecompass feature for either pencil or ruling pen service, as indicated.

One of the characteristic features of the present invention is made evident by a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2, the former showing the implement in service as an individual, the latter indicating the compass service. The position and relation of the end member M to casing H) remains unchanged by and when the compass leg element is made active. Since the leg element emerges from the side of the end member, it tends to present the misleading impression that the leg element is an attachment to the implement. structurally, the reverse is true, the compass portion forming the base structure of the assemblage with the implement as the attachment used to complete the compass assembly, thus being analogous to a drafting compass set which has attachments for both pencil and ink service, one of which must be used to complete the compass, the two attachments being interchangeable.

A similar condition is present herein, especially if the assemblage is marketed with the individual scribing structures designed respectively for pencil and for inking services. The fundamental distinction over such drafting com- 7, pass. is the; foot that the present invention the scribing'; implement, although an attachment, is service; usable as an individual. alone on as a member of, the compass at the will of; the user, a condition thatis impracticable: with the; drafting'compass.

The: characteristic is due to the-.iact that-the implement casing has a length sufficiently less: than that-of the-compassleg length, as to permit aportion of the hinging'zone oil-the compass to: form a. short part: of such leg; thus permitting. the. end member 015 the assemblage to: carry'the' hinging zone: with the and member formed of metal capable. of the needed accuracy in' pro-- duction for: effi'cient compass service; length ianeeded for. housingthe'leg'element, but. the additional length required is. provided within: the end' memberritself'in thehlending 'of thel-head zone of thezmainsection of the legelementintw the shank zone of such section,vv as indicated;

As will he understood, aniimplement designed for inking, instead of service. differs: from the. showing of: Eigz. 2; for instance, only- Within the lower portion of the casing'hy the snhstitu tion of ruling pen: structure for the pencilling;

structure shown, thevcasing otherwise heing'simL- lar to that shown to permit of them'oper' houseing of the compass leg'element As is evident from- Fig..1, the disclosure-ofthe:

specific form of the scribing structure in the: lower: portion: of the casing is illustrative and not necessarilythedetailstructure cfthe:sorib-- ing means actually used;wthe showing being. of.

conventional iormsaof. such means. The specific form which each may have pertains to thespe' cific implement individually and as such is an invention: independent of the present. combination, since the specific formof the implement: does not affect. thecomloination.

While I have herein disclosed the invention in A.

particular-form, itis apparent that changes and modifications therein may befound desirable or essential under serviceconditions, and I reserve the right to makesuch changes or modifications insofar as thesame may fall Within the spirit and; scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A compasspenoil: comprising a'pencilcasing- Casing.

hasingrits periphery provided: with: a; recess ex tendin-g' longitudinally thereon. a: headi portion remova-bly'secuned tothe upper: end of said cosing; a compass. leg element comnrising; a mainsection pivotallzv secured to said head portion and an extension section: telescoping, into said; maintsecftion to permitihousing. of the telescoped' sectionsiin: the longitudinal recess of the casing, the upper end portion of. said main section a, V-shaped groove and. a taper pointed threaded: member carried by the head member to; cooperate. with: the; groove: bottom and provide frlction anchoring: at: the; main and extension: sections;

2.. The structnreiofi claim. 1: in: which said extensionv section iszof: rod cross section hav ing' a pointed: end front and a. laterally? extended rear portion; said maim sectiona being: recessed: to: permitassembly' or thesections andimovementcfi the extensionpointed end into and; out ofi'. such.

main section by thetelescopingaction; said main: section having atlowerend of tubular constructionto form whousin'g for the. pointed end when the extension i'e its telescoped position: and spaced slots in the: main section side Walls to receive the laterally extended portion of said extension when the latter is in projected position.

3. 'Ihe-structureiof' claim 2' in which the upper end ofthe recessed pencilcasing is providedi with an opening to receivethe laterallyextending end oft-he extension in. thetelescopediposition of th'e extension.

LQUIS JJ. GIOSSI;

References Cited: im therfile of this; patent- UNI'IED" STATES PNI'EN'I'S Number: Name. Date 375,257 Boman nun.-- Dec. 20,1887 823,364 Rickheit uflwwiu i June. 1906 1,028,228 Lampell i c June-4,1912. 2,573,760 Chernes --il Nov' 6, 1.951,.

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country: Date 25818671 Switzerland. May 16,, I949 

